Assessment
An initial assessment is carried out by the MTS or Assistant within the first
three months of the young women’s stay. This consists of several diagnostic
questionnaires being administered and scored, a full  family history being taken, a
full chronology being understood and discussed with the young woman, reports
of previous psychological interventions/ assessments being accessed and usually
up to six or eight meetings with the young woman.
The assessment is then
compiled with the input of the staff teams, parents, social workers and in
consultation with Dr. Holmes or Dr. Gutjahr. This then informs the young
women’s therapeutic care plan. This assessment and therapeutic care plan is
available for the young women, staff team and social workers as appropriate.
This report is submitted into the court arena if required at no extra fee to the
placing authority however, if further reports are requested they are charged
for at an additional fee.
Cornerways Therapeutic Services are also able to access assessments from
various other professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, educational
psychologists, speech and language therapists and experienced therapists. The
placing authority, parents and young women all agree to these assessments going
ahead as appropriate. Each assessment is organised in accordance with the young
women’s needs.
The outcome of these assessments then inform staff’s practise
in looking after the young women both in the residential units and in the school
setting. For example the young woman may need more intensive staffing ratios
or a different approach in school in order to access education.
The MTS and assistant continue to assess and monitor all young women’s
therapeutic needs throughout their stay at Cornerways. This ensures that
should their needs change we are able to access the appropriate level of
support. This is done by attending team meetings on a regular basis and meeting
with the young women as frequently as necessary in order to review and ensure
that their therapeutic care is appropriate.
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